As you may well know, if you read anything on my blog, I am super proud of my small town life. I honestly wouldn't have it any other way. You may be rolling your eyes and calling me a liar, but I really do love living simply, and beautifully right here in Hazard. I am not going to sit here and write a huge piece about Mayberry and how Aunt Bea cooks everybody soup beans and Andy rides in on a white horse, I am sorry, but OUR small town life is so much more than all your stereotypical, television town bull-crap. It is about a close knit community, a way of life, the love of family, and generations of good, honest people, who could move away, but choose to stay here and make their living. I am sure if you ask anyone who truly loves their town, and the slow, simply way we live, they would understand all the reasons why everyone should love their small town life.
Family: Chances are you live five minutes from Grandma, Aunt So-and-So, Your Mama, and maybe even your siblings. I love being able to hop in the car and go see my Mom whenever I want to. I could not imagine just having to talk to her from the other end of a telephone. Plus, you really can't beat Sunday dinners at your Grandmother's house. More taters, Please!
Church Families and Community: The sense of closeness in the community, at times, can be something that is awe-inspiring. The churches in small towns really do come together to help anyone in need. Whether it be someone who is newly diagnosed with illness, in need of financial assistance, and a rally cry, or sponsoring food drives for the local homeless shelters. Without these amazing people, there would be a lot of lost, lonely folks. That is something small towns don't worry about, if you want saving, you can always be saved, and in more ways than one.
Sports: Nowhere on earth, will you find a bunch of people who are more into their high school/college sports than small town Kentucky. Lord have mercy. I have witnessed parents ejected at grade school games, my senior year a fan was tazed at a (very, very, important) region basketball game, and local football is so big, you have to purchase tail gating parking spots. We love it, we treat the athletes like minor celebrities, but no matter what, as long you make this area proud, we support you all the way.
We decorate the daylights out of everything: Oh yeah, I have three Christmas trees. Yeah, honey, I had my husband put up three extra fodder shocks this evening. Did you see her house? Not a single Halloween decoration. We love our holidays, and decorate our homes accordingly. It may cost us a small fortune, but you better believe we're all in competition with the neighbors to out-decorate each other. Keep em looking festive, ladies.
We have KICK ASS FOOD: I know, I am a fat kid at heart. I can eat fried okra until I'm sick, pone cornbread until I have to unbutton my pants, and so much gravy I am wiping grease off my face. I am country, and I like my country-fried food. You can have your damn chain restaurants, and your fast food. Just give me a couple good diners and dairy bars where I can get my chicken and dumplins, deep fried honey bun, and mile high custards and I'll be just fine.
Literally, Everyone Knows You: Everybody dies famous in a small town. It's true. Once you come of age, and enter into society, you get to know just about everyone. Sometimes that's good, sometimes it's bad. How you come to be known is your choice. Reputations die hard in small towns, everyone knows your business, but seems like everyone is just a little more forgiving here. Hell, even my sweet little Grandma had her wild days. Everybody does. There's not much else to do here but get in just a little trouble, and we're pretty good at that. We are also pretty good at second chances. Just go to church on Sunday, get that expunged off your record, and pray people forget!
You're just one of us: I always say this, people from small towns talk, they gossip, but they won't let anyone that is an outsider say anything about one of their own. My Mama always said, I can say whatever I want to about my brothers and sisters but nobody else can. That's true here. We don't take well to anybody that tries to badmouth us, belittle us, talk about us, or shame us. We are proud of who we are, and take it or leave it, Yankee.
Whenever I get down on my small little life, (sometimes it is possible) I have to remind myself of all of these things. Small town living is unique, and we have traits that you can't find, even in the biggest cities. Here, we remember what is still, and has always been important: family, love, respect, work ethic, and community. Never be ashamed of where you came from, where you live, or maybe even where you wish you were. Small town life is something to be cherished, preserved, and most all of, admired.
Labels: country living, HazardKy, Small town living
